Air Force Academy Investigation

The Air Force Academy alleges it's Number 2 Officer has "advocated religion, and one tradition over others."

Some things are like a gold ring in a pig's nose.

The buildings at the US Air Force Academy are typically military. They're functional. My first visit there was in 1994. Those buildings won't win any architectural awards - except for one: the cadets' chapel.

In 1996 it received the 25-Year Award from the American Institute of Architects. It is Colorado's number one man-made tourist attraction. From the base of the chapel to the tips of its 17 silvery spires, this soaring, wedge-shaped edifice reaches 150 feet toward the sky. Remember the blue postage stamp with the row of spires?

34,000 men and women have graduated from the Academy. Over half of those are still on active duty. Of the cadets who prayed in that chapel, and its small predecessor, more than 325 became general officers; 32 astronauts; 54 USAF Thunderbirds pilots; 2 combat aces; and numerous Rhodes Scholars, Guggenheim Fellows, and National Science Foundation Fellows. 36 graduates were prisoners of war and 162 gave their lives in combat.

Johnny Weida was one of those cadets. He has loved the Air Force and that chapel all his life. He honors the chapel because he is an enthusiastic Christian.

Brig. Gen. Johnny A. Weida is Commandant of Cadets and Commander, 34th Training Wing, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. He heads the 4,000-member cadet wing, and 930 Air Force support people. His responsibilities include cadet military training and airmanship education, supervising cadet life activities, and providing support to facilities and logistics. He carries a big load!

General Weida was commissioned in 1978. His resume includes commanding the 388th Fighter Wing, Hill Air Force Base, Utah. He has flown as a member of the Thunderbirds at Nellis AFB. He held staff positions with U.S. Forces Korea and the Air Staff Plans and Programs Directorate. Everyone knows he's an outspoken Christian.

This year, in a highly suspicious move, if not blatant discrimination, Johnny, the Air Force Academy's No. 2 officer, was removed from a Promotions List of 22 names to be voted upon by the U.S. Senate. No one is willing to say why his name was deleted. Could it be because of recent "improper conduct" investigations?

On June 21, 2005 the Air Force's inspector general in Washington DC released the Complaint Analysis Summary Statement of Johnny's trial. Fascinating reading! The second paragraph recaps the allegations that Gen. Weida: "publicly endorsed religious beliefs and that his activities, taken overall, improperly established a religion within the USAF Academy environment."

The charges are many. They say he has "advocated religion, and one tradition over others." How shameful and unprofessional!

An officer witnessing to his Christian faith - oh no! He was even accused of "giving permission for cadets to display religious articles in their rooms to the exclusion of non-religious articles."

Why do Christians take these risks? If they could simply enjoy their faith without speaking about it to others; if they could just learn to keep their religion private they would be in far less trouble -right?

Here's the heart of the problem: before He returned to heaven Jesus said: "Go and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. I will be with you always - to the very end of the age."

It's not a suggestion. It's an order. General Weida understands obedience to commands.

A noted skeptic once told Christian leaders: "If I believed, as you say you do, that humanity's personal wickedness leads to eternal punishment and that a loving God has provided a way to escape that, I'd be willing to crawl through fire for miles to convey such good news."

Sir, some are indeed willing!

How about you dear reader, does what you believe cause you to care about others?